Operating mechanism for washing-machines.



PATENTED MAY 7, 1907.

8. REAM. OPERATING MECHANISM FOR WASHING MACHINES.

APPLICATION PIVLED NOV.17',1904.

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thereon, as is usual in washing machines.

UNITED STATES SOLOMON BEAM, OF MILLOREEK, ILLINOIS.

OPERATING MECHANISM FOR WASHING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 7, 1907.

Application filed November 17, 1904. Serial No. 233,100.

To all whom it 7)"I/(.(/ 'I/ con/corn.-

Be it known that I, SOLOMON BEAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Millcreek, in the county of Union and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Operating Mechanism for t ashing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to operating mechanism for washing machines and more especially to that type of machines wherein the clothes or other material to be washed are subjected to a rotary action.

More particularly, this invention relates to a mechiansm for converting continuous rotary movement into alternating rotary movement, thereby securing the advantages of easy application of power and effective cleansing of the clothes.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the washing machine with parts assembled. Fig. 2 is a detail view partly in section showing the connection of the power shaft with the rubber actuating shaft.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1. is a tub having supporting legs 2, which are secured to the base of the tub by means of bolts 2 that engage in slots formed in the legs, while the bolts 3 secure the upper portion of the legs to the body of the tub engaging in slots therein.

Upon the top of the tub is a suitably hinged lid 4, while to one side thereof there is a depressed portion 4 formed upon the tub I for the purpose of receiving a wringer A suitable means for locking the lid in position is also provided.

Mounted within the tub 1 is a disk 9 provided with pins 9, which engage with and carry the clothes upon movement of the actuating means. Secured within this disk 9 is a shaft 10, being movably held therein by the pin 10 engaging the lower end of the shaft. This shaft 10 is formed rectangular in shape so as to prevent slipping of the disk thereon during the operation of washing. The upper portion 11, however, of the shaft is reduced and of a circular form having an opening 11 therethrough, the purpose of which will be hereinafter set forth.

Mounted upon the lid is a supporting plate 12 secured thereon by suitable screws 12. Mounted on this plate 12 at the inner end thereof is a supporting bracket 13 provided with a right angular projecting arm 13, which is provided with a suitable opening at the outer end thereof for the reception of the upper end of the slotted cylinder 14, which will be more particularly described hereinafter. Mounted upon the other end of the plate 12 is a supporting bearing 15. Passing through this bearing 15 and through a suitable opening in the supporting bracket 13 is a driving shaft 16, upon the outer end of which is secured the driving wheel 17 having an operating handle 17 thereon, the hub of this wheel abutting against the bearing 15.

The cylinder 14 is provided with a straight cut-out or slotted portion 1 1 the walls of which are adapted to be engaged by the arm 19 of the goose neck 20 formed at the inner end of the shaft 16, the free arm of said goose neck being in a plane common also to the driving shaft and said. slot, and inclined relatively to the driving shaft and adapted to alternately engage the respective walls of the slot in the cylinder to impart a revoluble movement to the main shaft. This cylinder 14 is adapted to engage with the circular portion 11 of the shaft 10 which seats within a suitable opening in the lower portion of the cylinder 14 and is held therein by means of a pin 18 which passes through the cylinder 14 and the opening 11 heretofore described as being disposed at the upper portion of the cylindrical member 11 of the shaft 10.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that upon rotation of the driving wheel 17 the shaft 16 is rotated while the goose neck being carried thereby and in engagement in the recessed portion of the cylinder 1 1, communicates movement to this cylinder, which in turn operates the shaft 10 to produce a rotary action of the clothes-engaging disk. During this operation, however, the goose neck engages with one portion of the slotted cylinder to produce a rotation thereof, and upon complete revolution of the drive wheel of the driving shaft 16, the action of the goose neck is reversed and the cylinder driven back in the opposite direction, thus producing a back and forth motion of the cylinder which is communicated to the shaft 10 secured to the rubbing disk 9.

For more particular exposition of the action of the goose neck let it be supposed that the goose neck is in a horizontal position, in which case the cylinder is turned in one direction as far as it can go and upon the completion of a half revolution of the drive wheel IIO and the corresponding movement of thetion of the drive wheel and the revolution of the goose neck, the cylinder Wlll then be returned to its starting point. Starting with the goose neck in a vertical position as seen in Fig. 2 when it is given a half revolution through the driving wheel, the cylinder will have assumed the same position; While upon the completion of the revolution of the goose neck through a complete turn of the driving wheel the cylinder will again be in its starting position.

What I claim is:

An operating mechanism for washing machines comprising a main shaft, a cylinder secured to the upper end thereof and formed with a longitudinally arranged straight slot, a driving shaft 16, having a goose neck carried by one end of the shaft, the free arm of said goose neck being in a plane common also to the driving shaft and said slot and inclined relatively to the driving shaft and adapted to alternately engage the respective walls of the slot in. the cylinder to impart a revoluble movement to. the main shaft.

In testimony whereof I have signed myname to this specification in presence of two witnesses.

OTTO E. HARMEs, J. E. MoUERY. 

